Tenants and families deserve access NOW to Highland Court Apartments

The owner of the Highland Court Apartments, 2725 W. Highland Blvd., must allow tenants back into their homes immediately, as the building was released Wednesday (May 21) by law enforcement. Tragically, five people died in a fire at the 85-unit apartment complex on Mother’s Day (May 11).

The fire and the immediate investigation into its cause barred tenants from returning to their units to gather belongings and inspect damage, but the landlord must now allow those tenants to – where safe to do so – return to their homes as soon as possible.

The building was built before structure-wide sprinkler systems at such apartment complexes were required by law. Milwaukee Fire Department personnel and other first responders rescued dozens of residents using ladders and other means in heroic efforts on Mother’s Day. To further discuss this building code provision, and what remedies can be made, I have introduced a communication file that will be heard at next week’s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee meeting. Details on the file can be found here.

The experience of May 11 has been extremely traumatic for the residents of Highland Court (and their loved ones), and they should not be traumatized further by any additional delay that keeps them from returning to inspect their homes.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.